Strengthen the Patient Engagement requirements of Stage 2 Meaningful Use

Nothing would result in improving the health of the population (and decrease healthcare costs) more than having greater involvement/engagement by individuals in the healthcare process. The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) could catalyze an unprecedented wave of innovation with a stroke of a pen. Having high expectations for Patient Engagement will allow healthcare providers to rise to the occasion to solve this huge issue. Consider that 3/4 of healthcare spend is on chronic disease and decisions that drive outcomes are made by individuals (aka "patients"). It's long been said the most important member of the care team is the patient. It's time to transform that from a catchphrase to reality. The ONC can do that.

Signing this petition is good. The most impactful item, however, is to comment on the government website for Stage 2 Meaningful Use requirements. [If the link doesn't work, search on "Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Electronic Health Record Incentive Program-Stage 2" on the site.]

This petition was delivered to:

ONCDr. Farzad Mostashari

HHS SecretaryKathleen Sebelius

CMS Acting AdministratorMarilyn Tavenner

Letter to

ONCDr. Farzad Mostashari

HHS SecretaryKathleen Sebelius

CMS Acting AdministratorMarilyn Tavenner

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) at Health & Human Services (HHS).

----------------It's important to strengthen the Patient Engagement requirements of Stage 2 Meaningful Use

Nothing would result in improving the health of the population (and decrease healthcare costs) more than having greater involvement/engagement by individuals in the healthcare process. Consider that 3/4 of healthcare spend is on chronic disease and decisions that drive outcomes are made by individuals (aka "patients"). It's long been said the most important member of the care team is the patient. The ONC could catalyze an unprecedented wave of innovation with a stroke of a pen. Having high expectations for Patient Engagement will allow healthcare providers to rise to the occasion to solve this huge issue.----------------